"It fails to commit the UK to cutting its emissions by at least 42% by 2020, which is needed to ensure this country plays its fair part in tackling global warming," he said.

"Even welcome policies such as promoting electric vehicles are undermined by gas-guzzling plans such as motorway widening and airport expansion.

"Labour should have set the bar far higher on environmental issues - the other parties must show voters they have far greater ambition."

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS

The Institute of Directors (IoD) said the manifesto did not give enough detail on how Labour would sort out the public finances.

"We simply can't see how the deficit is going to be tackled quickly enough if the government is only prepared to identify as little as £10bn of spending reductions," said the IoD's director general Miles Templeman.

"If Labour wins the election are ministers going to reveal a much longer list of spending cuts or will we face higher taxes on top of the National Insurance hike?"

However, Mr Templeman did welcome the government's commitment to a third runaway at London Heathrow.

GREENPEACE

Greenpeace said Labour's commitment to a third runway at Heathrow "sticks out like a sore thumb" in the manifesto.

"Most independent observers now agree that opposition from the Tories, the Lib Dems, Labour backbenchers, the courts, environmental groups and local residents means the third runway will never be built," said Greenpeace executive director John Sauven.

"This manifesto shows real recognition of the role that low carbon industry can play in Britain's economic recovery," he said.

"We need to see these words backed with massive investment in new infrastructure which can bring thousands of new jobs to this country as well as boosting our energy security, making our homes warm and tackling climate change."

Mr Sauven added that the real test would be if a re-elected Labour government safeguards such investment "despite the clamour for cuts".

TUC

The TUC union umbrella group welcomed Labour's pledge to increase the National Minimum Wage in-line with the rise in average earnings.

"It is good to rule out letting the minimum wage fall behind the growth of average earnings," said TUC general secetary Brendan Barber.

"The minimum wage must never be allowed to 'wither on the vine' otherwise low-paying employers will be allowed to shirk their responsibilities and needlessly abandon low-paid workers to poverty pay," he added.

CBI

The CBI business organisation said Labour was not proposing to tackle the public debt fast enough.

"The next government must set out a clear and robust plan for restoring the public finances, and the current deficit must be balanced earlier than Labour's proposals," said CBI deputy director-general John Cridland.

Mr Cridland also appeared to be nonplussed with Labour's pledge to raise the National Minimum Wage in line with average earnings over the next five years.

""The setting of a national minimum wage is a matter best left to the independent Low Pay Commission," he said.

Mr Cridland was more upbeat on Labour's plans to boost the UK's low-carbon economy, saying the party had "interesting ideas here".

He also welcomed the recognition in the manifesto that the private sector can play a part in public sector reform.

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